Episode 260- Duel for Cardia

Jake and Brendan deep dive yet another dueling game! This time it's 2025's Duel for Cardia. After the review, they discuss gameplay modules and try to decide when they add value to a game and when they just add noise.

Timestamps

3:50- Cardia deep dive 50:00- modular content

Preplanners

We are returning to Arcs! Also more special guests!

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music: music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at decisionspa@gmail.com.

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 259- April Fool's Game Show Spectacular

The only game show that takes place right here, in the space between the episodes of your favorite podcast.

Preplanners

We deep dive Cardia next week!

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music: music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at decisionspa@gmail.com.

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 258- Gamer's Ranch 2026 Report

Pete and Jake played a ton of games together! New hotness, old beige games, and a big dramatic session of Blood on the Clocktower!

Timestamps

9:45- The Old King's Crown 20:15- Blood on the Clocktower 34:15- Renature 41:30- Medina 48:40- Skyrise 52:15- Here Lies 1:00:30- Indonesia 1:08:15- Gudnak 1:10:15- Keyforge 1:12:15- Mindbug 1:15:45- Moon Colony Bloodbath 1:21:30- El Grande

Preplanners

Upcoming deep dives of Bus and Cardia will be in the coming weeks, so get those plays in so you're ready!

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music: music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at decisionspa@gmail.com.

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 257- Game Difficulty and Sail

What makes games difficult and why do we sometimes enjoy that? When does it go too far? Pete and Brendan explore the topic after discussing a very difficult game: the 2 player cooperative trick-taker Sail.

Timestamps

3:50- Sail deep dive 35:30- difficult games discussion

Other Games Mentioned

Final Girl, Palaces of Carrera, Pandemic, The Mind, Take Time, The Crew, Fellowship of the Ring Trick-Taking Game

Preplanners

Upcoming deep dives of Bus and Cardia will be in the coming weeks, so get those plays in so you're ready!

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music: music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at decisionspa@gmail.com.

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 256- Isle of Skye

Jake and Paul deep dive the 2016 Kinnerspiel des Jahres Winner: Isle of Skye. Yo, that was 10 years ago? That's craaaazy! They go deep on the joys of variable scoring, catch up mechanisms, and the cozy vibes of building your own little thing.

Timestamps

4:30- Isle of Skye deep dive

Other Games Mentioned

Whispwood, Ohanami, Nimalia, Castles of Mad King Ludwig

Preplanners

Next week is a discussion of game difficulty and the 2p trick-taker Sail.

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music: music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at decisionspa@gmail.com.

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 255- Art and Games with C. Thi Nguyen

Professor C. Thi Nguyen returns to the pod! We discuss process art, getting good, value capture, empathy, and his new book The Score.

Timestamps

2:00- about The Score 10:00- art is a game 18:30- how games affect us 25:00- depth and difficulty 32:30- getting good 45:00- empathy and intimacy 53:00- value capture 1:03:30- process art 1:18:00- closing thoughts

Preplanners

Next week is a discussion of Isle of Skye!

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music: music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at decisionspa@gmail.com.

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 254- Concordia

It's an old school episode in every way! The original Decision Space duo (Brendan and Jake) do a deep dive on a new classic with an old school soul: Mac Gerdts' Concordia!

Timestamps

4:20- intro to Concordia 21:00- Concordia deep dive 1:18:00- other Gerdts games

Preplanners

Next week is the return of C Thi Nguyen to the podcast and after that we're deep diving Isle of Skye!

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music: music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at decisionspa@gmail.com.

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 253- Historical Games and Pax Renaissance

Pete is joined by Andy Nealen, an academic, game maker, and podcaster. Together they explore what makes the historical war games so special but also so niche in the hobby. Also, Pax Renaissance is in both of their top 10 games of all time, so they do a full deep dive on that game. This is a long one, so buckle up!

Andy is a co-host on the Secret Lives of Games podcast: https://secretlives.games/

Timestamps

14:30- historical games 26:30- accessibility and chrome 46:15- simulating difficult subjects 57:15- intro to Pax games 1:17:30- Pax Renaissance deep dive 1:48:30- wrapping up

Games Mentioned

Molly House, John Company 2nd Edition, Twilight Imperium, Here I Stand, Cross Bronx Expressway, Campaign for North Africa, Votes for Women, Nevsky, Imperial Struggle, This Guilty Land, Pax Porfiriana, Pax Pamir 2nd Edition, Pax Transhumanity, Pax Renaissance, Pax Emancipation, Shores of Tripoli, Undaunted Normandy

Preplanners

We have a deep dive on Concordia coming up next, and then a returning guest appearance from another academic!

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music: music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at decisionspa@gmail.com.

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!